U.S. patent number 4,847,889 [Application Number 07/151,424] was granted by the patent office on 1989-07-11 for single-line, plug-in telephone answering machine.
Invention is credited to Kapali Eswaran.
United States Patent |
4,847,889 |
Eswaran |
July 11, 1989 |
**Please see images for:
( Reexamination Certificate ) ** |
Single-line, plug-in telephone answering machine
Abstract
An answering machine with one or more special features. These
features include either means for providing multiple out-going
messages, or multiple in-coming message locations, or both, with
the message locations being selectable by the caller by means of
preselected code sequences entered by the owner. When both portions
of the present invention are present there are two sets of code
sequences, one for out-going messages and another for in-coming
messages. The number of digits in each code sequence can be the
same or different, as can the actual codes since the detection of
the proper code is time dependent on where in the cycle of the
answering sequence the answering machine is at the time that the
caller enters the code sequence.
Inventors: |
Eswaran; Kapali (Woodside,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
22538717 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/151,424 |
Filed: |
February 2, 1988 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/88.24;
379/88.21; 379/76; 379/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/652 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
1/65 (20060101); H04M 1/65 (20060101); H04M
1/652 (20060101); H04M 1/652 (20060101); H04M
001/65 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/77,67,88,89,76 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Brown; Thomas W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jones; Allston L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A single line, plug-in telephone answering machine
comprising:
general out-going message means for providing a general message to
all callers, said general message having been previously recorded
by the owner;
a countable set of special out-going message means for providing a
special message to a caller following the general message and the
entry by the caller of a corresponding code sequence by means of
the caller's telephone, said special message and code sequence
having been previously recorded and stored by the owner;
means for recording the general and special out-going messages by
the owner;
means for entry by the owner of an out-going message code sequence
for each of said special out-going message means;
means for storing the code sequences for the special out-going
messages entered by the owner;
means for receiving and decoding the code sequence from the caller
to select the corresponding special out-going message; and
means for comparing the stored code sequences with the caller
entered code sequence and activating the corresponding special
out-going message when a match of the stored and caller entered
code sequences is found.
2. A telephone answering machine as in claim 1 wherein said means
for entry by the owner of code sequences for special out-going
messages includes a recognizer for decoding the tones from the
owner's touch-tone telephone as the owner enters the selected code
sequences from the telephone keypad.
3. A telephone answering machine as in claim 1 wherein said means
for receiving and decoding a code sequence from the caller to
select a special out-going message includes a recognizer for
decoding the tones from the caller's touch-tone telephone as the
caller enters the selected code sequence from the telephone
keypad.
4. A telephone answering machine as in claim 1:
further including means for placing the answering machine in either
a set or a receive code, in the set mode the owner can record the
general and special out-going messages and select a code sequence
for each special out-going message, and in the receive mode the
answering machine will answer the telephone and accept code
sequences from a caller; and
wherein said means for entry by the owner of code sequences for
special out-going messages and means for receiving and decoding a
code sequence from the caller to select a special out-going message
each share a recognizer for decoding the tones from the owner's or
the caller's touch-tone telephone as the owner or caller enters a
selected code sequence from the telephone keypad, with the
recognizer being used in the set mode to decode the owner entered
code sequences and in the receive mode to decode the caller entered
code sequences.
5. A single line, plug-in telephone answering machine
comprising:
a countable set of special in-coming message means for providing a
caller a location to leave a special message following the entry by
the caller of a corresponding code sequence by means of the
caller's telephone, said code sequence having been previously
selected and stored by the owner;
default in-coming message means for providing a general message
area for callers to leave a message if the caller does not enter a
recognized code sequence;
means for playing back the default and special in-coming messages
by the owner;
means for entry by the owner of a special in-coming message code
sequence for each of said special in-coming message means;
means for storing the code sequences for the special in-coming
message means established by the owner;
means for receiving and decoding a code sequence from the caller to
select a special in-coming message means; and
means for comparing the stored code sequences with the caller
entered code sequence and activating the corresponding special
in-coming message location when a match of the stored and caller
entered code sequences is found.
6. A telephone answering machine as in claim 5 wherein said means
for entry by the owner of code sequences for special in-coming
messages includes a recognizer for decoding the tones from the
owner's touch-tone telephone as the owner enters the selected code
sequences from the telephone keypad.
7. A telephone answering machine as in claim 5 wherein said means
for receiving and decoding code sequences from the caller to select
special in-coming message locations includes a recognizer for
decoding the tones from the caller's touch-tone telephone as the
caller enters the selected code sequences from the telephone
keypad.
8. A telephone answering machine as in claim 5:
further including means for placing the answering machine in either
a set or a receive mode, in the set mode the owner can select the
code sequences for the special in-coming messages, and in the
receive mode the answering machine will answer the telephone as
well as accept messages and code sequences from a caller; and
wherein said means for entry by the owner of code sequences for
special in-coming message locations and means for receiving and
decoding code sequences from the caller to select special in-coming
messages each shares a recognizer for decoding the tones from the
owner's or the caller's touch-tone telephone as the owner or caller
enters the selected code sequences from the telephone keypad, with
the recognizer being used in the set mode to decode the owner
entered code sequences and in the receive mode to decode the caller
entered code sequences.
9. A single line, plug-in telephone answering machine
comprising:
general out-going message means for providing a general message to
all callers, said general message having been previously recorded
by the owner;
a countable set of special out-going message means for providing a
special message to a caller following the general message and the
entry by the caller of a corresponding out-going message code
sequence by means of the caller's telephone, said special out-going
message and special out-going message code sequence having bee
previously recorded and stored by the owner;
means for recording the general and special out-going messages by
the owner;
a countable set of special in-coming message means for providing a
caller a location to leave a special message following the entry by
the caller of a corresponding in-coming message code sequence by
means of the caller's telephone, said in-coming message code
sequence having been previously selected and stored by the
owner;
default in-coming message means for providing a general message
area for callers to leave a message if the caller does not enter a
recognized special in-coming message code sequence;
means for playing back the default and special in-coming
messages;
means for entry by the owner of an out-going message code sequence
for each of said special out-going message means, and for entry by
the owner of a special in-coming message code sequence for each of
said special in-coming message means;
means for storing the out-going message code sequences for the
special out-going message means entered by the owner, and for
storing the special in-coming message code sequences for the
special in-coming message locations established by the owner;
means for receiving and decoding an out-going message code sequence
entered by the caller to select the corresponding special out-going
message, and for receiving and decoding a special in-coming message
code sequence from the telephone of the caller to select the
corresponding special in-coming message location; and
means for comparing the stored out-going message code sequences
with the caller entered out-going message code sequence and
activating the corresponding special out-going message when a match
of the stored and caller entered out-going message code sequences
is found, and for comparing the stored special in-coming message
code sequences with the caller entered special in-coming message
code sequence and activating the corresponding special in-coming
message locations when a match of the stored and caller entered
special in-coming message code sequences is found.
10. A telephone answering machine as in claim 9 wherein said means
for entry by the owner of code sequences includes a recognizer for
decoding the tones from the owner's touch-tone telephone as the
owner enters the selected code sequences from the telephone
keypad.
11. A telephone answering machine as in claim 9 wherein said means
for receiving and decoding a code sequence from the caller includes
a recognizer for decoding the tones from the caller's touch-tone
telephone as the caller enters a selected code sequence from the
telephone keypad.
12. A telephone answering machine as in claim 9:
further including means for placing the answering machine in either
a set or a receive mode, in the set mode the owner can record the
general and special out-going messages and select a code sequence
for each special out-going message, and in the receive mode the
answering machine will answer the telephone and accept code
sequences from a caller; and
wherein said means for entry by the owner of code sequences and
means for receiving and decoding a code sequence from the caller
each shares a recognizer for decoding the tones from the owner's or
the caller's touch-tone telephone as the owner or caller enters the
selected code sequences from the telephone keypad, with the
recognizer being used in the set mode to decode the owner entered
code sequences and in the receive mode to decode the caller entered
code sequences.
13. A telephone answering machine as in claim 9:
further including means for placing the answering machine in either
a set or receive mode,
in the set mode the owner can record the general and special
out-going messages and select the code sequences for the special
out-going and in-coming messages, and
in the receive mode the answering machine will answer the
telephone, and accept in-coming messages and code sequences from a
caller; and wherein:
said means for entry by the owner of a code sequence and means for
receiving and decoding a code sequence from the caller each shares
a recognizer for decoding the tones from the owner's or the
caller's touch-tone telephone as the owner or caller enters the
selected code sequences from the telephone keypad, with the
recognizer being used in the set mode to decode the owner entered
code sequences and in the receive mode to decode the caller entered
code sequences.
14. A single line, plug-in telephone answering machine
comprising:
microprocessor means for controlling the machine operation in
response to a countable set of interrupt signals which represent
changes or different operational states of the answering machine
including a set mode and a receive mode;
general out-going message means responsive to the microprocessor
means for providing a general message to all callers, said general
message having been previously recorded by the owner;
a countable set of special out-going message means responsive to
the microprocessor means for providing a special message to a
caller following the general message and the entry by the caller of
a corresponding code sequence by means of the caller's telephone,
said special message and code sequence having been previously
recorded and stored by the owner;
means responsive to the microprocessor means for recording the
general and special out-going messages by the owner;
means responsive to the microprocessor means for entry by the owner
of the out-going message code sequence for each of said special
out-going message means and for receiving the code sequence from
the caller to select the corresponding special out-going message;
and
means coupled to the microprocessor means for storing the machine
algorithms and the code sequences for the special out-going
messages entered by the owner;
said microprocessor means further providing for decoding the code
sequence from the caller to select a corresponding special
out-going message, and for comparing the stored code sequences with
the caller entered code sequence and activating the corresponding
special out-going message means when a match of the stored and
caller entered code sequences is found.
15. An answering machine as in claim 14 wherein the countable set
of interrupt signals which control the operation of the
microprocessor means includes:
a first interrupt signal that occurs when the set mode is selected
for the owner to select code sequences, record out-going messages
and listen to in-coming messages;
a second interrupt signal that occurs when the receive mode is
selected to permit the answering machine to answer telephone calls,
to play out-going messages for the caller, and to record in-coming
messages from callers;
a third interrupt signal that occurs when the owner or the caller
enters a code sequence; and
a fourth interrupt signal that occurs when a preset number of rings
on the telephone line has been counted.
16. A single line, plug-in telephone answering machine
comprising:
microprocessor means for controlling the machine operation in
response to a countable set of interrupt signals which represent
changes or different operational states of the answering machine
including a set mode and a receive mode;
a countable in-coming message means responsive to the
microprocessor means for providing a caller a location to leave a
special message following the entry by the caller of a
corresponding code sequence by means of the caller's telephone,
said code sequence having been previously selected and stored by
the owner;
default in-coming message means responsive to the microprocessor
mean sor providing a general message area for callers to leave a
message if the caller does not enter a recognized code
sequence;
means responsive to the microprocessor means for playing back the
default and special in-coming messages by the owner;
means responsive to the microprocessor means for entry by the owner
of a special in-coming message code sequence for each of said
special in-coming message means and for receiving a code sequence
from the caller to select a special in-coming message location;
and
means coupled to the microprocessor means for storing the machine
algorithms and the code sequences for the special in-coming message
locations established by the owner;
said microprocessor means further providing for decoding a code
sequence from the caller to select a corresponding special
in-coming message location, and for comparing the stored code
sequences with the caller entered code sequence and activating the
corresponding special in-coming message location when a mathc of
the stored and caller entered code sequences is found.
17. An answering machine as in claim 16 wherein the countable set
of interrupt signals which control the operation of the
microprocessor means includes:
a first interrupt signal that occurs when the set mode is selected
for the owner to select code sequences, record out-going messages
and listen to in-coming messages;
a second interrupt signal that occurs when the receive mode is
selected to permit the answering machine to answer telephone calls,
to play out-going messages for the caller, and to record in-coming
messages from callers;
a third interrupt signal that occurs when the owner or the caller
enters a code sequence; and
a fourth interrupt signal that occurs when a preset number of rings
on the telephone line has been counted.
18. A single line, plug-in telephone answering machine
comprising:
microprocessor means for controlling the machine operation in
response to a countable set of interrupt signals which represent
changes or different operational states of the answering machine
including a set mode and a receive mode;
general out-going message means responsive to the microprocessor
means for providing a general message to all callers, said general
message having been previously recorded by the owner;
a countable set of special out-going message means responsive to
the microprocessor means for providing a special message to a
caller following the general message and the entry by the caller of
a corresponding out-going message code sequence by means of the
caller's telephone, said special out-going message and special
out-going message code sequence having been previously recorded and
stored by the owner;
means responsive to the microprocessor means for recording the
general and special out-going messages by the owner;
a countable set of special in-coming message means responsive to
the microprocesor means for providing a caller a location to leave
a special message following the entry by the caller of a
corresponding in-coming message code sequence by means of the
caller's telephone, said in-coming message code sequence having
been previously selected and stored by the owner;
default in-coming message means responsive to the microprocessor
means for providing a general message area for callers to leave a
message if the caller does not enter a recognized special in-coming
message code sequence;
means responsive to the microprocessor means for playing back the
default and special in-coming messages recorded by the callers;
means responsive to the microprocessor means for entry by the owner
of an out-going message code sequence for each of said special
out-going message means and of a special in-coming message code
sequence for each of said special in-coming message means, and for
receiving an out-going message code sequence entered by the caller
to select a corresponding special out-going message and receiving a
special in-coming message code sequence from the telephone of the
caller to select a corresponding special in-coming message
location; and
means coupled to the microprocessor means for storing the machine
algorithms, the out-going message code sequences for the special
out-going message means entered by the owner, and the special
in-coming message code sequences for the special in-coming message
locations established by the owner;
said microprocessor means further providing for decoding an
out-going message code sequence entered by the caller to select a
corresponding special out-going message, for decoding a special
in-coming message code sequence from the telephone of the caller to
select a corresponding special in-coming message location, for
comparing the stored out-going message code sequences with the
caller entered out-going message code sequence and activating the
corresponding special out-going message means when a match of the
stored and caller entered out-going message code sequences is
found, and for comparing the stored special in-coming message code
sequences with the caller entered special in-coming message code
sequences and activating the corresponding special in-coming
message locations when a match of the stored and caller entered
special in-coming message code sequences is found.
19. An answering machine as in claim 18 wherein the countable set
of interrupt signals which control the operation of the
microprocessor means includes:
a first interrupt signal that occurs when the set mode is selected
for the owner to select code sequences, record out-going messages
and listen to in-coming messages;
a second interrupt signal that occurs when the receive mode is
selected to permit the answering machine to answer telephone calls,
to play out-going messages for the caller, and to record in-coming
messages from callers;
a third interrupt signal that occurs when the owner or the caller
enters a code sequence; and
a fourth interrupt signal that occurs when a preset number of rings
on the telephone line has been counted.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to single line, plug-in telephone
answering machines, more particularly single line, plug-in
answering machines having recording means with multiple outgoing
message capability and multiple incoming message recording devices
or locations.
There are several types of single line, plug-in answering machines
currently available in the marketplace. The machines typically have
two tape drives: one for the outgoing message (OGM), and the other
for recording incoming messages from callers (ICM). In each of
these machines, the user records his own OGM on one tape, which is
typically a continuous loop tape. Then, when the telephone to which
the machine is connected is not answered, the OGM tape is activated
playing the tape to the caller. At the end of the OGM, a beep is
sounded to alert the caller to the starting of the second tape, the
ICM tape, to permit the caller to leave a message.
Each subsequent caller also hears the OGM and is permitted to leave
a message which is recorded serially after all of the previously
left messages. The machine then places an end of message marker
after the message, turns off the ICM tape after each caller's
recorded message and resets the OGM tape to the beginning for the
next caller.
These machines also permit the user to rewind the ICM tape and to
play back the messages. Many of the machines also have standard
tape recorder functions such as fast-forward, erase, cue to next
message, volume control, etc.
There are also multi-line telephone answering systems which are
computer controlled. These systems are capable of receiving calls
on numerous lines, some systems with a different recorded out-going
message for each line. Additionally, the system can provide a
number of secondary out-going messages that can be addressed by
informing the caller of the code number to enter from the caller's
keypad on their touch-tone phone in the initial out-going message.
A form of this system is used by banks and credit unions to permit
customers to determine their balances and obtain other information
about the serives offered by the institution. For example, an
account holder can call the bank, then in response to the initial
out-going message enter a code to access the checking account
balance sub-routine, enter his account and personal identification
numbers, and hear a voice synthesizer tell him his account balance.
In these systems the voice recording and transmission are all done
digitally and the computer that is controlling the system processes
the information in parallel so that the time necessary to deal with
the system by any one caller seems to the caller to be as if he is
the only caller using the system. These systems are very complex,
memory intensive, and require sophisticated software to perform the
desired functions. As such, these systems are also very
expensive.
It would be desirable to have a single line, plug-in telephone
answering machine that could provide different OGM messages for
different callers in response to the caller entering a code
sequence from a touch-tone telephone without the need of a
sophisticated software system. The code sequence could be selected
from internally available codes by, or a code entered by, the user.
Additionally, it would be useful to have the capability of having
the caller, again from the touch-tone panel of his telephone, to
enter a code sequence to select the party for whom the message that
he wishes to leave is for. The entry of that code would then
activate the ICM tape associated with that code. The present
invention provides such a single line, plug-in answering
machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the illustrated embodiments, the present
invention provides a single line, plug-in answering machine with
one or more special features. These features include either means
for providing multiple out-going messages, or multiple in-coming
message locations, or both, with the message locations being
selectable by the caller by means of preselected code
sequences.
More specifically, if the answering machine hase multiple out-going
message capability, there will be a general out-going message means
for providing a general message to all callers with that message
having been previously recorded by the owner, and at least one
special out-going message means for providing a special message to
a caller following the general message and the entry by the caller
of the corresponding code sequence by means of the caller's
telephone with the special message and code sequence having been
previously recorded and stored by the owner. Additionally, there is
a means for recording the general and special out-going messages by
the owner, a means for storing the code sequences for the special
out-going messages entered by the owner, a means for receiving and
decoding code sequences from the caller to select special out-going
messages, and a means for comparing the stored code sequences with
the caller entered code sequences and activating the corresponding
special out-going message when a match of the stored and caller
entered code sequences is found. In the context of this discussion,
the term "at least one of" means a countable number. In the common
usage of the term "countable" it is understood to include both one
and a multiplicity of whatever is being specified.
Similarly, if the answering machine has capability for recording
in-coming messages in different locations there will be at least
one special in-coming message means for providing a caller a
location to leave a special message following the entry by the
caller of a corresponding code sequence by means of the caller's
telephone with the code sequence having been previously selected
and stored by the owner, and a defaul in-coming message means for
providing a general message area for callers to leave a message if
the caller does not enter a recognized code sequence. Additionally,
there is a means for playing back the default and special in-coming
messages by the owner, means for storing the code sequences for the
special in-coming message areas by the owner, means for receiving
and decoding code sequences from the caller to select special
in-coming messages areas, and means for comparing the stored code
sequences with the caller entered code sequences and activating the
corresponding special in-coming message locations when a match of
the stored and caller entered code sequences is found.
When both portions of the present invention are present there are
two sets of code sequences, one for out-going messages and another
for in-coming messages. The number of digits in each code sequence
can be the same or different, as can the actual codes since the
detection of the proper code is time dependent on where in the
cycle of the answering sequence the answer machine is at the time
that the caller enters the code sequence.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a basic telephone answering machine
implementation.
FIG. 1B is a bloci diagram of the user tape controls and the OGM
and ICM servos of the block diagram of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1C is a block diagram of a representative one of the OGM and
ICM control and drive circuits of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 is a logic block diagram of the control circuitry for
selecting between 3 OGMs of a telephone answering machine of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is a logic block diagram of the director block of FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is a logic block diagram of the logic array blocks of FIG.
2.
FIG. 5 is a logic block diagram of the comparator of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a logic block diagram of the control circuitry for
selecting between 3 ICM recording locations of a telephone
answering machine of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a microprocessor implementation of the present
invention.
FIG. 8A-E are flow charts for the operation of the microprocesor
embodiment of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9A illustrates one locking scheme for providing privacy in
monitoring the different message tapes in the present
invention.
FIG. 9B illustrates another locking scheme for providing privacy in
monitoring the different message tapes in the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of a typical telephone answering
machine. A first switch 100, the tape selection switch, is provided
for the user to manually select between the tape drives having the
OGM and the ICM tapes. This is a ganged switch such that when both
switch halves are in the down position the ICM is selected, and
when in the up position the OGM is selected. The position of switch
100 controls all of the functions with respect to the tape drives
so that all of the controls, manual and automatic, only control the
selected tape as will be seen in the discussion of FIG. 1B.
Similarly the second switch 102, the mode selection switch, is
provided for the user to select between the "set" and "receive"
modes of operation of the answering machine. When both of the
ganged switches 102 are in the down position the "receive" mode is
selected, and when they are in the up position the "set" mode is
selected. The "set" mode is provided for the owner of the answering
machine to record an OGM or to listen to recorded ICMs. The
"receive" mode is the usual mode of operation to allow the
answering machine to record ICMs when the owner does not answer the
telephone within a preselected number of rings.
The OGM and ICM terminals of switch 100 are each connected to one
input terminal of a different one of AND gates 104 and 106, with
the other input terminal of each of AND gates 104 and 106 connected
to the "set" terminal of switch 102. Thus, when the "set" mode has
been selected, the logic level on the output terminals 126 and 128
of AND gates 104 and 106 are mutually exclusive of each other, i.e.
one is a logical high and the other is a logical low depending on
the position of switch 100. Device 110 represents the OGM or ICM
servo which has built in an ICM servo mechanism and an OGM servo
mechanism. The logical high signal from AND gate 106 on line 128
arms ICM servo mechanism in servo 110. When so armed, user tape
controls 108 allow the owner to rewind the ICM tape and listen to
or to erase any recorded messages when switch 100 is in the ICM
position. The logical high signal on line 126 arms OGM servo
mechanism on servo 110. When so armed user tape controls 108 allow
the owner to record, play or erase the OGM. The "set" mode terminal
of switch 102 is also connected to recording selector 118 to permit
the owner to record a message via microphone 120.
When switch 102 is in the "receive" mode, ring counter 122 is
enabled to count the number of rings on the telephone line. If the
number of rings equals to preselected number, ring counter 112
enables the OGM servo 110 via the signal on line 134. This in turn
initiates the playing of the OGM by means of control 122. The
signal from ring counter 112 is also applied to a delay 114 that is
equal to or longer than the length of the OGM. The output signal
from delay 114 then activates beeper 116 which the caller hears in
the telephone while the beep signal activates the ICM servo 110 and
control 122 to record the caller's message via recorder selector
118.
Referring next to FIG. 1B, the user tape controls 108 and the OGM
and ICM servos 110 are shown in more detail. User tape controls 108
consists of a set of five push buttons 142-150 for controlling
"play", "record", "erase", "rewind" and "ff/cue" functions of the
tape drives. Note that only the first three of these operations are
possible for the OGM tape, while all but the "record" function are
available for the ICM tape. When depressed, each of these switches
momentarily applies a positive pulse to the output line therefrom.
The OGM portion of servos 110 is shown at the top of the figure and
is labelled 110A, while the ICM portion of servos 110 is shown at
the bottom of the figure and is labelled 110B.
OGM servo 110A includes three AND gates 152-156 and an OR gate 158.
An input terminal of each of AND gates 152-156 are connected to
line 126 (the output line from AND gate 104) of FIG. 1A to enable
the OGM servo 110A. The second input terminal of each of AND gates
152-156 are connected to switches 142-146 ("play", "record" and
"erase"), respectively. The output terminals of AND gates 154 and
156 are connected directly to the appropriate input line of OGM
tape control 122, the output terminal of AND gate 152 is connected
to the OGM tape control 122 via OR gate 158. The second input
terminal of OR gate 158 is connected to line 134 (output of ring
counter 112) of FIG. 1A to allow the playing of the OGM either
manually or automatically.
The ICM servo 110B includes four AND gates 160-166, which are used
as enabling gates, with each having one of its input terminals
connected to line 128 (output of AND gate 106) of FIG. 1A to enable
it. The second input terminal of AND gates 160-166 is connected to
the corresponding one of switches ("play", "erase", "rewind" and
"ff/cue") 142 and 146-150. The output terminals of AND gates
160-166, together with line 140 (output line from beeper 116) from
FIG. 1A that is the "record" input line, are connected to ICM tape
control 122.
Next, FIG. 1C shows one of the control and drives of control and
drive 122 in greater detail. For the ICM control and drive there
are six input lines, and for the OGM control and drives there are
four input lines. The "ff/cue" and "rewind" signals only have
application with the ICM tape. In both versions, the "erase",
"record" and "play" signals are applied to an OR gate 168 to
provide the "motor forward-low speed" enable signal to motor
control 174 for operating transport motor 176. Additionally, the
"erase" and "record" signals are applied to a second OR gate 172 to
generate the enable signal for the erase control 180 for powering
erase head 182. The "record" signal serves as an enable signal for
write control 184 which receives the information to be written to
tape on line 123 from recording selector 118 in FIG. 1A that is
applied to write head 186. The "play" signal is also applied to AND
gate 192 to gate the output signal from amplifier 188, which
amplifies the signal that is read from the tape by read head 190,
to speaker 124 so that the owner can review the OGM or to listen to
the ICMs. The ICM control and drive also includes the use of an end
message signal which is applied to one input terminal of AND gate
170 via inverter 178. The other input terminal of AND gate 170
receives the "ff/cue" signal and the output signal of AND gate 170
provides a "motor forward-high speed" signal to motor control 174.
Thus, when the owner presses the "ff/cue" button 150 (FIG. 1B) the
tape is advanced at high speed until the amplifier detects an end
of message marker on the tape. At that time the end of message
signal is generated, inverted by inverter 178 and AND gate 170 is
disabled stopping the forward advance of the tape by removing the
"motor forward-high speed" signal from motor control 174.
The present invention has two parts which can be used together or
separately. The first part provides a system whereby there can be
more than one OGM. A general OGM is provided for all callers and
upon entry of a preselected code number via a touch tone key panel
an additional OGM can be heard. The additional OGMs can be either
public or private depending on where an announced code is used or a
code that is only known to the owner and the desired caller. A
caller who is to have access to a private message could have been
told previously by the owner what code to use, or the caller could
be told in the general OGM to punch in a selected sequence of
digits from a sequence of digits known to both the owner and the
caller, e.g. the second, third, fourth and fifth digits of the
caller's telephone number. The second part of the idea is provision
for multiple recording locations for ICMs. To select other than a
default ICM location, the caller would enter an announced code
number from a touch tone panel when the leave a message beep is
heard. In either of these parts, the codes are dynamically
definable and alterable by the owner of the answering machine which
incorporates the present invention.
In FIG. 2 there is shown a logic block diagram of the circuit of
the present invention to provide two OGMs in addition to the
general OGM. This circuit is inserted in place of line 138 in FIG.
1A with the output signal of delay 114 applied to flip-flop 10 and
the output line 43 going to beeper 116. With selection switch 102
(FIG. 1A) in the "set" position the owner of the answering machine
can program the codes to activate each of the additional OGMs. In
the "set" mode a logical high signal is applied to OR gate 14 to
provide a logical high enable signal on line 49 to recognizer R,
16. The owner then lifts his telephone receiver and enters the code
number for the second OGM. Recognizer 16 (e.g. DTMF receiver M-947
by Teltone) decodes the keyed tones entered and generates a four
bit digital word which is transferred to register S, 30. The
circuit of FIG. 2 is shown to have four digits for each code being
entered by the owner, however, a code of any length can be used
with appropriate modifications to the circuit. Recognizer 16 also
provides a shift signal on line 50 to register 30 and a
tone-present signal on line 47 to director 24 (described below).
When director 24 counts four tone-present signals from recognizer
16, a logical high signal is applied to one of the input terminals
of AND gate 26 which has the "set" signal on its other input
terminal. AND gate 26 in turn applies an enable signal to logic
array 32 (described below) to gate the code sequence stored in
register 30 to register C1, 36. Similarly, the next four digit
codes entered by the owner are decoded by recognizer 16 and entered
into register 30. When director 24 counts the next four
tone-present signals from recognizer 16, director 24 applies a
signal to one input terminal of AND gate 28 which has the "set"
signal on its other input terminal. The output signal from AND gate
28 then enables logic array 34 (same as logic array 32) which
permits the second code stored in register 30 to pass to register
C2, 38, completing the programing of the circuit to allow for
activation of the second and third OGMs.
By placing selection switch 102 in the "receive" position, a
logical high signal is applied to one of the input terminals of
each of AND gates 12 and 20, and a low logical signal on the
mode="set" line. In operation, when the end of general OGM signal
(the first end of OGM signal) is applied to flip-flop 10, a logical
high signal is applied to the other input terminal of AND gate 12.
AND gate 12 in turn applies a logical high signal to OR gate 14 and
generates an enable signal to recognizer 16. The caller then may
enter a four digit code from the key panel of his touch tone
telephone which is decoded by recognizer 16. As the entered code is
decoded it is passed to register 30 as discussed above, and the
tone-present signal is counted by director 24. When the signal on
the "count=4" output line of director 24 goes high, that signal is
applied to the other input terminal of AND gate 20. AND gate 20 in
turn applies a logical high signal to OR gate 18 which generates
the disable signal on line 48 that is applied to recognizer 16. The
output signal from AND gate 20 is also utilized as the actuate
signal to comparator K, 40 (described below). Comparator 40 then
compares the code stored in register 30 with each of the codes
prestored by the owner in registers 36 and 38. If no match is found
or if a match is found with both the codes in registers 36 and 38,
then comparator 40 generates a logical high signal on line "a". If
a match is found with the code only in register 36 or only in
register 38, a logical high signal is generated by comparator 40 on
lines "b" or "c", respectively. A signal on either line "b" or "c"
results in the actuation of the respective OGM. Each of lines "b"
and "c" are equivalent to line 134 in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Each of
lines "b1" and "c1" are equivalent to line 138 of FIG. 1A. Lines a,
b1 and c1 are input lines to OR gate 42. The output signal from OR
gate 42 is applied to a second beep generator 44 to generate a
second end of OGM beep to signal the caller to leave a message. The
output signal on line 45 of second beeper 44 is utilized to reset
flip flop 10.
While the above discussion has been for a system having a total of
three OGMs, it should be noted that the system can easily be
expanded to include as many OGMs as desired.
FIG. 3 shows a logic block diagram of director 24. Included is a
modulo 4 counter 54 to count the tone-present signals from
recognizer 16 on line 47. A count of 4 signal from counter 54 is
applied to flip-flop 56, which toggles each time a four count is
received, and one input terminal on each of AND gates 50 and 52.
The output terminal of flip-flop 56 is connected to inverter 58 and
the other input terminal of AND gate 52. The other input terminal
of AND gate 50 is connected to the output terminal of inverter 58.
In this configuration, when the first four signals are counted, the
output signal of AND gate 50 becomes a logical high and the output
signal of AND gate 52 is a logical low. When the next four signals
are counted, the output signal of AND gate 52 becomes a logical
high and the output signal of AND gate 50 is a logical low. The
signal on line 48 is high when the count is 4 in the "RECEIVE"
mode. It is also high when the count is 8 in the "SET" mode. The
signal on line 48 is used to reset the counter and flip flops in
FIG. 3.
Logic arrays 32 and 34 are shown in FIG. 4 where it can be seen
that sixteen two input AND gates 65-79 are each enabled by the same
signal to transfer each sixteen bit code in parallel to the
appropriate register (four bits per tone with four tones in
all).
In FIG. 5 comparator 40 is shown in logical block diagram form.
Comparator 40 includes two banks of exclusive OR gates 62 and 64
for comparing all of the bits of each of the codes of registers 36
and 38 with all of the bits of the code in register 30. Each of the
match-no-match signals from exclusive OR gates 62 and 64 are
applied to different input terminals of exclusive OR 66 and to one
input terminal of the two AND gates 70 and 72. The output terminal
of exclusive OR 66 provides the "a" line. The output signal from
exclusive OR 66 is applied to an inverter 68 and the output signal
from inverter 68 is in turn applied to the other input terminals of
each of AND gates 70 and 72. The output terminals of AND gates 70
and 72 provide the "b" and "c" lines, respectively.
The following paragraphs describe an implementation for the second
part of the invention, namely the provision for multiple devices
for ICMs. The next paragraph describes an implementation when only
one OGM is used and the subsequent paragraph describes an
implementation when there are multiple OGM devices. Both of the
implementation are described in reference to FIG. 6.
Now refer to FIG. 6 for the following. The input signal on line 73
is the end of General OGM signal which is the signal on line 138 in
FIG. 1A. This signal is the input signal on line 73 of AND gate 74
and the other input signal is the "RECEIVE" signal from the
selection switch on line 132 (FIG. 1A). When both of these signals
are a logical high, the output signal of AND gate 74 is also a
logical high and provides the enable signal for a second recognizer
76 (this is the only recognizer in the single OGM configuration and
the second recognizer in the multiple OGM configuration; it will be
referred to as the second recognizer below). In the outgoing
message, the caller would have been informed to key in a code
(which is assumed for illustration to be a single symbol digit in
the key panel of a touch tone telephone) upon hearing the beep
tone. Here, recognizer 76 is in the enabled state when the beeper
has sounded the tone (beeper 116 of FIG. 1A). When the caller
enters a code symbol in his key panel, the signals are received and
gated to recognizer 76 which has been enabled. The signals are
decoded by recognizer 76 and a corresponding code is transferred to
register 78. At this time, recognizer 76 also activates comparator
84 via line 83. Next, comparator 84 (similar to comparator 40 in
FIG. 2) compares the code stored in register 78 with the codes
previously entered by the owner in dip switch registers P1 and P2
(80 and 82). If there is no match or if there is a match with both
the registers 80 and 82, then signal "d" appears. If there is a
match between register 78 and register 80 only, then signal "e"
appears. If there is a match between register 78 and register 82
only, then signal "f" appears. Signal "d" activates ICM3 (i.e.,
signal "d" is the same as the signal on line 140 of FIG. 1A except
that it is specifically for ICM3). Signal "e" activates ICM2 (i.e.,
signal "e" is the same as the signal on line 140 of FIG. 1A except
that it is specifically for ICM2). Signal "f" activates ICM1 (i.e.,
signal "f" is the same as the signal on line 140 of FIG. 1A except
that it is specifically for ICM1). Each of the signals "d", "e" and
"f" are also inputted to an OR gate 86 for arming a beeper 87 (this
is the second beeper in the single OGM configuration and the third
beeper in the multiple OGM configuration; it will be referred to as
the third beeper below) which signals the caller to leave a
message. The first beeper 116, in the one OGM configuration, sounds
to alert the caller to input a code for choosing a specific input
device (either ICM1 or ICM2 or ICM3) and the third beeper 87, in
the one OGM configuration, beeps to alert the caller to leave a
message. With this portion of the present invention, the owner, as
part of his outgoing message, may state the various codes that the
caller may input to choose an area set aside for a particular
person at the receiving end. For example, the owner might state in
the OGM message that following the beep after the message, if the
caller wanted to leave a message for salesperson Mr. Smith then
enter code 2 and wait for a beep to start leaving a message, for
salesperson Mrs. Peterson then enter code 4 and wait for a beep to
start leaving a message and for any other person enter any other
code or no code and wait for a beep to start leaving a message.
This paragraph discusses an implementation of the second invention
when multiple OGM and ICM devices are both included in the
answering machine. The machine will have three beepers: one sounds
after the playing of the general message informing the caller to
input a specific code for a possible special message in an OGM, the
second after the playing of a specific message on a specific OGM1
or OGM2 and informing the caller to input a specific code for a
possible selection of a special recording device ICM1 or ICM2 and
the third beeper sound informing the caller to start leaving a
message. The second recognizer 76 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the
recognizer in FIG. 2. The third beeper 87 is similar to first and
second beepers 116 and 44. In FIG. 6, the input signal on line 73
is the signal from beeper 44, line 45, in FIG. 2. The rest of the
operation is the same as that described in the previous
paragraph.
With both of the features of the present invention implemented, the
owner, as part of his outgoing message, may state the various codes
that the caller may input at the end of a first beep tone to choose
to listen to a specific message depending on the caller, the codes
that the caller may input at the end of a second beep to choose an
area set aside for a particular person at the receiving end. For
example, the owner might state in the general OGM message that
following the beep after the general message, if the caller was Mr.
Fine or Mr. Gold, then he may input the first four digits of the
caller's home phone number to listen to a particular message and if
the caller wanted to leave a message, then the caller should wait
for the second beep to enter a code for the called person; if the
called person was salesperson Mr. Smith then enter code 2 and wait
for a beep to start leaving a message, for salesperson Mrs.
Peterson then enter code 4 and wait for a beep to start leaving a
message and any other person enter any other code or no code and
wait for a beep to start leaving a message.
As can be seen in the discussions of the various implementations,
there are several logical AND, OR, NOT and XOR functions performed.
There are also multiple registers involved, namely S, C1, C2, S2,
flip-flop 10, and flip-flop 46. There are also a counter 44 and
comparators 40 and 84. The functions performed by these elements
can be done by a simple microprocessor. Only one recognizer is
needed. This paragraph describes such an implementation. The
following describes an implementation when both the features with
multiple OGMs and ICMs are installed in the machine. When only one
of the features is installed, the implementation can easily be
extrapolated.
The system can be interrupt driven; four interrupts in all:
interrupt 1 occurs when the selection switch is turned to the "SET"
position; interrupt 2 occurs when the selection switch is turned to
"RECEIVE" position; interrupt 3 occurs when the recognizer sends a
tone-present signal, and interrupt 4 occurs when the ring-counter
has counted a preset number of rings. The interrupt 1 line is same
as line 130 in FIG. 1A. The interrupt 2 line is same as line 132 in
FIG. 1A. The interrupt 3 line is same as line 47 in FIG. 2. The
interrupt 4 line is same as line 136 in FIG. 1A. FIG. 7 shows and
implementation using a microprocessor 200. There are four interrupt
control line as input lines. The data inputs are from the
recognizers and dip switches. There are seven output control lines.
Two of these actuate two of the beepers, one to alert the caller to
input a code (which is a single symbol) to select an ICM device and
the other to alert the caller to input a message. Two of these
output lines are used to actuate the appropriate OGM device. Three
of these output lines are used to actuate the appropriate ICM
device. There are also two more output lines to enable and disable
the recognizer. In FIG. 7, these output lines are marked with line
numbers that are equivalent to previous reference numbers in other
figures involving implementations without a microprocessor. FIGS.
8A through 8E show a flowchart of the functioning of the
microprocessor program logic. Memory locations are assumed to be 4
bits wide and eight locations M1 through M8 are used to store codes
for caller (it is assumed, as before, that the caller codes are 4
symbols long and that there are two special callers with particular
messages; receiver code is 1 symbol long and there are two special
receivers). Locations L1 through L4 and COUNT, OGM are scratch
locations used to store temporay values.
When multiple devices for outgoing and incoming messages are
involved, it might be desirable to have a mechanism to ensure
privacy. For example, only Mr. Adam might have the authority to
enter messages in the OGMs and Mr. Peterson was to receive messages
in ICM1, Mrs. Doe was to receive messages in ICM2 and the rest of
the personnel in ICM3. In such instances, one could provide a lock
and key mechanism to ensure privacy. FIGS. 9A and 9B show such
schemes. There can be a separate lock mechanism for each ICM and
OGM device for which privacy is required. When the key is used to
open the lock and with the key still in the lock, an output signal
is created which provides an input signal to the appropriate AND
gate connected to signals from "PLAY" or "RECORD" buttons. The
output of the AND gate is connected to the respective servos. For
each of these schemes, FIGS. 9A and 9B show the substitution of a
three input AND gate for AND gates 154 and 152 in FIG. 1B with the
third input line connected to V.sub.c through a spring loaded
lock.
It should be understood that the present invention is not limited
to having only three OGMs or ICMs, and that the circuitry shown
here can easily be expanded to accommodate as many of either as may
be desired. It is also not necessary that there be as many OGMs as
there are ICMs. The the above discussion the recording medium
referred to was magnetic tape. The present invention could also
utilize diskettes or IC memory (RAM). For the tapes and diskettes
the recording could be done either digitally or analog, and
digitally in the RAM. Also wherever in the discussion multiple
tapes were mentioned, there could actually be multiple tapes, or
other recording medium, or there could be a single physical
recording medium with the individual messages separated by magnetic
or data markers. This is true for either the OGM or the ICM tapes,
in fact, with appropriate markers, the could all be on the same
recording medium. Additionally, one skilled in the art could
implement the system of the present invention that has multiple ICM
and OGM means with a single recognizer (e.g. see FIG. 7) instead of
the two recognizers shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.
Further, from the foregoing description, it will be apparent that
the invention disclosed herein provides a novel and advantageous
answering machine design. As will be understood by those familiar
with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the
scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *